‘Who did this to our tree? We’ll pay $1000 to find out’: Disability services provider Minda concerned by sick trees

AN Adelaide disability service provider is desperate to find out who has killed its trees — and will pay $1000 for answers.

Minda CEO Cathy Miller and maintenance co-ordinator Geoff McKinon alongside one of the native trees that has been left seriously ill on the boundary of its Brighton property, thanks to recent attacks. picture: Bianca De Marchi

DISABILITY services provider Minda is offering a $1000 reward for information about who may have poisoned three trees on its North Brighton property.

Minda chief executive Cathy Miller said staff had noticed a dead blue gum on its Repton Rd boundary during a recent inspection.

“All signs point to it having been deliberately poisoned by someone,” Ms Miller said.

She said an arborist found the tree in good health in August 2014, and it had had some minor maintenance pruning done early last year.

An arborist this week noticed a strong chemical smell and several drill holes in its base, with metal tubing inserted.

The attack prompted an inspection of other nearby trees, which found two more blue gums — one small and one large — had also been tampered with.

“One smaller tree is showing significant unnatural dieback, which has also impacted on new growth, as well as a number of smaller branches having been removed, while the larger tree has a hole drilled near the base which is about 75mm deep,” Ms Miller said.

She said the large tree was still healthy and both would be monitored in the hope that they recovered over time.

“The attacks have been reported to police and the local council, and to encourage anyone with information about the person or people responsible, we are offering a reward of $1000 to anyone that can provide information that leads to a successful conviction.”

The trees were not among those to be chopped down to make way for the $260 million redevelopment of the 28ha site.

Minda plans to cut down six trees for the development’s second stage.

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